Summer Time Pool Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

These pool activities are designed for toddlers and preschoolers to play in a shallow child's pool. Each activity will help your child become more comfortable in the water and build pre-swimming skills.

Remember, children should never be unsupervised while swimming in the water. Plan ahead and bring outside any food, drinks, or towels your kids will need so that you will not be tempted to run back in the house, just for a second.

Choosing the right pool

Choose a pool that is big enough for your child to lie down on his or her stomach and also stretch out and practice kicking. Older kids will want a deeper pool while babies and toddlers may prefer a blow up pool whose bottom has a little cushioning in case of a fall.

Swim Like an Alligator

Make a collection sponges, balls, and plastic toys that float on the water. Scatter them on the surface of the water of your pool and have your child scoop them out of the top of the water with a net. Your child can crawl around in the water on his or her stomach and pretend to be an alligator or a crocodile searching for food. Pretending to be an alligator will help your child get used to the position people get into when they swim.

Diving for Treasure

A few sinking toys, such as pool dive toys and hard plastic toys can be placed on the bottom of the pool for your child to collect and place in a bucket or basket alongside the pool. As your child gets older, fill the pool a little deeper with water and encourage him or her to put his or her face under the water to collect the toys.

Motorboat

Have your child place his or her face in the water and blow bubbles and scoot around the water on his or her arms while kicking while you sing the motorboat song:

Motorboat, motorboat go so slow.

Motorboat, motorboat go so fast.

Motorboat, motorboat step on the gas!

Lifeguard Says

Explain to your kids that they should always listen to the lifeguard while swimming, then play Lifeguard Says the same way you would play Simon Says, with you being the lifeguard. Incorporate swimming skills into the game such as: kick as fast as you can in the water (front crawl kick), kick like a frog (breast stroke kid), blow bubbles in the water, and hold your nose and put your face in the water.